Nishanth Kuttan R

Nishanth Kuttan R is a prominent indigenous climate organizer from the Toda community, with a strong background in advancing forest rights and bringing indigenous perspectives to global platforms like the African Climate Summit. 

His NYCC initiative focused on translating broad climate awareness into localized civic action targeting waste management and water conservation in the Nilgiris. Targeting tribal youth, local students, and Panchayat representatives, Nishanth seamlessly connected grassroots advocacy with district-level policy engagement. He mobilized over 280 participants to lead massive stream clean-ups and capacity-building programs. Collaborating extensively with Government Arts Colleges, Ekalavya Model Residential Schools, and the Nilgiri Tribal Heritage Society, Nishanth builds sustained networks that empower marginalized youth to act as authoritative custodians of climate resilience in ecologically sensitive mountain regions.